Professional Development

Professional development is a great way to improve the quality of teaching/ learning presses. I think teachers should attend, participate or organize PD regularly to develop their skills. However, most of the teachers don’t have enough time or chance to participate in educational technology professional development to improve the teacher skills. Many experts think that to solve this issue teacher should work smarter in creating a helpful educational technology professional development within the time limitation. 

Since I have been here for just 2 years I don’t have that experience about professional development in the USA. However, I worked as social worker in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. I had the chance to participate in a few professional developments to integrate technology in the hospital. For example, the hospital got a new voice machine to record the patient report then print it out automatically. All the stuff in the hospital had been trained and introduced to the new machine for two months.  As a result, the new machine became a very successful tool for writing the patient’s report at the hospital and all the staff was ready and well trained to use it.

I believe Professional Development has to be a collaborative process. Everyone needs to be part of the educational technology professional development in order for it to be effective and improve teaching and learning, without making it individual responsibility of anyone, educator or expert.

WebQuest URL

This is the URL for our WebQuest (Saudi Arabia)

http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=85911

My Digital story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjsqQ2jEKHk

Online Safety & Security

Internet is unlimited in terms of helpful information and great programs, however at the same time caution must be applied In order to avoid identity theft or losing private information.

I believe that technology and internet became an important part in our lives these days. So in order to enjoy all the benefits that technology and Internet provide, and prevent and detect possible violations, students have to be taught how to use it safely. I think every school should provide an online safety & security course for teachers and students as well.

In my previous EDT 610 class I had the chance to learn about online safety & security and I had a great opportunity with i-safe organization, which works in support of Internet safety, to watch a verity of videos and get a certificate. i-Safe tutorials was a great opportunity for me; I learned a lot by watching the videos. I highly recommend a visit to this site http://www.isafe.org/ it seems to be a good starting point for educators, parents, students, and community members alike

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs listed safety tips as one use social networks, e-mail, and the Internet,

“1. Never broadcast private contact information. Never list your e-mail address or phone number in any public space, such as your profile page, a blog, forums, or photo caption.

2. If you are a member of a social network, pay close attention to your privacy settings, which allow you to choose how much personal information you reveal and to whom.

3. Carefully consider what you publish on social networks. Before you post photos, videos, or text, ask yourself if it would embarrass you if your family or employer saw them.

4. Before you add a widget (an application that can be shared with others electronically) to your profile, think about whether you want the creators of the widget to be able to access your profile page and information about your activity on the social network. Keep in mind that the social network generally has no control over these widgets, so exercise discretion when using these tools.

5. Report any abuses of a website’s Terms of Use to the website’s administrators. Any reputable website or social network will have a way for you to report abuses.

6. E-mail can be used to spread malicious software or obtain your personal information in order to commit fraud.” http://exchanges.state.gov/pro-admin/pdfs/safety_english.pdf

I can hardly believe this semester is almost over!

Digital Storytelling

Digital Storytelling is the usage of computer-based tools to tell stories. It’s usually containing some mixture of computer-based images, text, recorded audio narration, video clips and/or music. It can be vary in length, but most of the stories used in education typically last between two and ten minutes. I found that the greatest way to begin learning about Digital Storytelling is by watching videos introduction to Digital Storytelling.

Digital Storytelling is the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. Digital stories derive their power by weaving images, music, narrative and voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid color to characters, situations, experiences, and insights. Tell your story now digitally.

- Leslie Rule, Center for Digital Storytelling

It is my first time to make a digital story and I’m so excited. My Digital story topic is Middle East and North Africa Freedom. I think the digital story can be an effective assignment in nearly any course in nearly any discipline that requires a major project or presentation. There are some Educational Uses for Digital Stories For Students,

•                Undergraduate Research - Students involved in undergraduate research can develop digital stories to reflect on their research experience and/or present key findings.

•                Student Reflection - Students can develop stories to recount their experiences collaborating with peers and developing projects during their studies, or ponder their future as they get ready to graduate.

•                Course Project - Currently, students studying journalism and biology are working with their professors to develop various types of digital stories.

•                Portfolio Piece - Students develop a presentation in this dynamic medium to show potential employers or to submit with a graduate school application.

•                Co-op, Study Abroad or Experiential Education Reflection - Students can complete digital stories as a required assignment for experiential education programs. .http://www.northeastern.edu/edtech/teaching_learning/teaching_tools/digital_story

Google Docs & Google Calendar

The features of Google are endless; every time I discover new features on google I love it more. On last Monday I learned new wonderful tools on Google, which are Google Docs and Google calendar.

Google Docs

Google Docs is a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, form, and data storage service. For Google Docs I can export, update and import all my documents, spreadsheets and presentations. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users. The data storage of any files up to 1GB each in size. Google Docs gives me added advantage of accessing my documents from anywhere. 

Google Docs have many uses in education. I remember I used it as students in EDT 610 class for collaborative work with my classmates and it was great and easy. Now I’m using it with my partner in WebQuest project so we can put all the work in google docs then we can add or change it.

Google Calendar

I have a really bad memory; my friends always call me the fish based on the theory that fish have bad memories. I always carry my calendar with me. After learning about Google calendar I will not carry mine anymore. It easier and faster and more organized and the most important clean. I prefer to use month view as my default view in calendar so I see events in context of a whole month. One can change the color and also share it with others. The great thing about Google features that you can learn more and watch videos about it online, you will find all the answers that you need and that what I exactly did.

WebQuest

The WebQuest is a new experience for me. I had the chance to get some helpful information in my other class EDT 620 but I never made one. I went through many WebQuest at QuestGarden, which was very helpful to look at others work and how the good WebQuest should be like in the end. My partner Nouf and I think of Saudi Arabia as a topic for our Webquest to introduce our country to American students.

We are thinking to use KompoZer to build the Webquest, which is a free program that I’m familiar with. However, one of my classmate told me about Zunal.com which is also a free website but it is more professional on WebQuests that helps to create one.

           I think WebQuest is a great tool that teacher can use in the classroom and the students probably will like it, as a different learning experience and a great way to get them motivated to excel in the classroom. I’m so excited to learn how to make a WebQuest, which will be very meaningful and helpful for me. I think it’s a great idea and defiantly I’m going to use it when I get back home, Saudi Arabia.